1996 Wimbledon Championships

1996 Wimbledon Championships
Date 24 June - 7 July
Edition 110th
Category Grand Slam (ITF)
Surface Grass
Location Church Road
SW19, Wimbledon,
London, United Kingdom
Champions
Men's Singles
Netherlands Richard Krajicek
Women's Singles
Germany Steffi Graf
Men's Doubles
Australia Todd Woodbridge / Australia Mark Woodforde
Women's Doubles
Switzerland Martina Hingis / Czech Republic Helena Suková
Mixed Doubles
Czech Republic Helena Suková / Czech Republic Cyril Suk
Boys' Singles
Belarus Vladimir Voltchkov
Girls' Singles
France Amélie Mauresmo
Boys' Doubles
Italy Daniele Bracciali / Canada Jocelyn Robichaud
Girls' Doubles
Belarus Olga Barabanschikova / France Amélie Mauresmo
Gentlemen's Invitation Doubles
Poland Wojciech Fibak / United States Tim Wilkison
Ladies' Invitation Doubles
United Kingdom Jo Durie / United States Anne Smith
Senior Gentlemen's Invitation Doubles
Australia John Alexander / United States Sherwood Stewart
Wimbledon Championships
 < 1995 1997 > 

The 1996 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament played on grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London in England. It was the 110th edition of the Wimbledon Championships and was held from 24 June to 7 July 1996.

Notable stories

Cliff Richard's impromptu concert

That year was best remembered for an impromptu performance staged by Cliff Richard, who was watching from the royal box.[1]

When rain interrupted play on Centre Court on 3 July with a crowd that included Prince Michael of Kent, Princess Michael of Kent and actress Joanna Lumley,[2] Richard was approached by court officials for an interview. They suggested that he sing a song or two to entertain the crowd.[3] With approval from his PR manager Cliff proceeded to start the performance, starting with Singin' in the Rain.

The performance ran for twenty minutes and consisted of Richard's classic hits such as Living Doll and Congratulations, as well as the Elvis Presley hit "All Shook Up".[1] Past tennis stars Virginia Wade, Martina Navrátilová, Hana Mandlíková, Pam Shriver, Liz Smylie, Gigi Fernández and Conchita Martínez were in the Royal Box and proceeded to join in as background singers.[1][2]

Richard was not aware that his performance was televised by the BBC, and after six songs presenter Des Lynam jokingly claimed "we'll probably get one hell of a bill." The performance made the front pages in many major British newspapers on the following day.

Since a retractable roof was completed on Centre Court in 2009 such a performance is unlikely to happen again.[4]

Seniors

Men's singles

Netherlands Richard Krajicek defeated United States MaliVai Washington, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3

• It was Krajicek's 1st and only career Grand Slam singles title. He became the first Dutchman to win a Grand Slam singles title and the first Dutch singles winner since Kea Bouman in 1926.

Women's singles

Germany Steffi Graf defeated Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, 6–3, 7–5

• It was Graf's 20th career Grand Slam singles title and her 7th and last title at Wimbledon.

Men's doubles

Australia Todd Woodbridge / Australia Mark Woodforde defeated Zimbabwe Byron Black / Canada Grant Connell, 4–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–2

Women's doubles

Switzerland Martina Hingis / Czech Republic Helena Suková defeated United States Meredith McGrath / Latvia Larisa Neiland, 5–7, 7–5, 6–1

• It was Hingis' 1st career Grand Slam doubles title.
• It was Suková's 9th and last career Grand Slam doubles title and her 4th title at Wimbledon.

Mixed doubles

Czech Republic Helena Suková / Czech Republic Cyril Suk defeated Latvia Larisa Neiland / Australia Mark Woodforde, 1–6, 6–3, 6–2

• It was Suková's 4th career Grand Slam mixed doubles title and her 2nd title at Wimbledon.
• It was Suk's 3rd career Grand Slam mixed doubles title and his 2nd title at Wimbledon.

Juniors

Boys' Singles

Belarus Vladimir Voltchkov defeated Croatia Ivan Ljubičić 3–6, 6–2, 6–3

Girls' Singles

France Amélie Mauresmo[lower-alpha 1] defeated Spain Magüi Serna 4–6, 6–3, 6–4

Boys' Doubles

Italy Daniele Bracciali / Canada Jocelyn Robichaud defeated South Africa Damien Roberts / South Africa Wesley Whitehouse 6–2, 6–4

Girls' Doubles

Belarus Olga Barabanschikova / France Amélie Mauresmo[lower-alpha 1] defeated United States Lilia Osterloh / United States Samantha Reeves 5–7, 6–3, 6–1

Other events

Gentlemen's Invitation Doubles

Poland Wojciech Fibak / United States Tim Wilkison defeated Czech Republic Pavel Složil / Czech Republic Tomáš Šmíd 6–2, 5–7, 6–1

Ladies' Invitation Doubles

United Kingdom Jo Durie / United States Anne Smith defeated Slovenia Mima Jaušovec / South Africa Yvonne Vermaak 6–3, 6–2

Senior Gentlemen's Invitation Doubles

Australia John Alexander / Australia Phil Dent defeated United States Marty Riessen / United States Sherwood Stewart 7–6, 6–2

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mauresmo reached the final in 2006 and she won.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://m.guardian.co.uk/ms/p/gmg/op/view.m?id=107752&tid=34&cat=tennis
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://sport.scotsman.com/wimbledon2004/Sir-Cliffs-Wimbledon-singalong-was.2546752.jp
  3. ↑ http://www.cliffrichard.org/news/index.cfm?page_id=4
  4. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1172429/The-3-000-ton-Wimbledon-roof-keeps-dry-AND-stops-Sir-Cliff-singing.html

External links

Preceded by
1996 French Open		 Grand Slams Succeeded by
1996 U.S. Open